Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Nuclear Power: Inspections

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps would be needed to replace EU Atomic Energy Community safeguards inspectors with International Atomic Energy Agency Inspectors to implement safeguards provisions on (a) UK nuclear installations and (b) nuclear material used and created at UK nuclear sites under treaties to which the UK is a party.

Jesse Norman: Until the UK leaves the EU, it is expected to remain a full member with all relevant rights and obligations. The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy will continue to work closely with stakeholders and the rest of Government during our negotiations to exit the EU to deliver energy which is secure, affordable and clean.

Research

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions have taken place with the EU Science Commissioner on the future of EU funding for research and innovation in the UK.

Joseph Johnson: Holding answer received on 21 July 2016



No formal discussions have taken place with the EU Science Commissioner. The Minister of State for Universities and Science has been in close contact with Commissioner Moedas on the topic of the Horizon 2020 programme. While the UK remains a member of the EU, current EU funding arrangements continue unchanged, including those that apply to students, researchers, and businesses. Setting out arrangements for those currently in receipt of EU funds is one of many issues that will need to be addressed during the negotiations for leaving the EU. The Government intends to maintain and enhance the strength of our research base, which is why we have protected the science resource budget in real terms from its 2015/16 level of £4.7 billion for the rest of the parliament.

Pneumoconiosis: Compensation

Sir Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many posthumous claims for compensation under the (a) Pneumoconiosis etc (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 and (b) Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis Scheme 1974 were successful in each of the last 30 years.

Sir Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many posthumous claims for compensation under the (a) Pneumoconiosis etc (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 and (b) Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis Scheme 1974 were submitted in each of the last 30 years.

Jesse Norman: With regards to the Pneumoconiosis etc (Workers Compensation) Act 1979, the Department for Work and Pensions have advised that the information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. For the Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis Scheme 1974 (CWPS) the figures for posthumous claims received and paid, and the reasons for the difference between the two are shown in the table below: YearDeceased Claims ReceivedDec’d Claims PaidDenials & Work In Progress (WIP)Duplicate Claim DenialFailed Eligibility DenialNil Offer*Work In Progress/Withdrawn/ Other Denial20114117515312012104652063102013160103181314122014153961913187201516910120202442016703367717* Nil Offer – a claim under the 1979 Act resulted in a higher award than would have been payable under the CWPSN.B. Figures only available from July 2011 onwards when current claims handler took on the contract.

Pneumoconiosis: Compensation

Sir Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reasons his Department included in the tender document to administer the Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis Scheme 1974 a requirement that all posthumous claims to that scheme be accompanied by a grant of probate.

Jesse Norman: There was no separate tender document for the administration of the Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis Scheme. The Department’s tender did not therefore have any bearings on the requirements under the Scheme. Before payments can be made under the CWPS, claims handlers must ensure that the person making the claim is entitled to do so. Provision of probate is sometimes necessary in posthumous claims to ensure that the correct person receives the compensation and also to ensure that the positions of both the estate and the taxpayer are adequately and proportionately protected against fraud.

Pneumoconiosis: Compensation

Sir Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which signatories to the Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis Scheme 1974 were consulted by his Department prior to the inclusion in the tender document to administer that scheme a requirement that all claims to that scheme be accompanied by a grant of probate.

Jesse Norman: There was no separate tender document for the administration of the Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis Scheme (CWPS), hence there was no such consultation.